Happy Town: New ABC Mystery Show; Cancel or Keep It?

by Trevor Kimball, April 29, 2010

Last night, ABC premiered their new Happy Town TV show. Despite the cute name, the series isn’t a happy go-lucky sitcom but is actually a dark murder-mystery drama. Most importantly, will ABC be happy enough with the ratings to keep it on the air?

Happy Town takes place in a small Minnesota community called Haplin that, years ago, was plagued by unsolved kidnappings. Now, a horrific murder puts everyone on edge once again and uncovers deep feelings and resentments. Has the mysterious “Magic Man” returned to claim more victims? From the creators of October Road, this series features Sam Neill, M.C. Gainey, Geoff Stults, Lauren German, Amy Acker, Steven Weber, Ben Schnetzer, Sarah Gadon, Jay Paulson, and Robert Wisdom.

After receiving mostly moderate to negative reviews, Happy Town debuted to weak numbers. Per the overnights, the ABC premiere attracted a disappointing 1.7 rating in the 18-49 demo and just 5.23 million viewers. That put the series in second place in the demographic and third place in total viewers.

Those numbers also represent a loss of nearly 40% in the demo from lead-in Cougar Town and a 20% loss in total audience. What’s more, last week’s disappointing Ugly Betty finale did better with a 1.8 rating and 5.56 million. On top of that, a sizable amount of the Happy Town audience tuned out before the first episode was even over, likely meaning they won’t be back next week.

What do you think of Happy Town?

A new show typically loses at least 10-15% of its audience in week two and Happy Town hardly has any viewers to spare. As you might have guessed, none of this is a good sign for the show’s future.

Eight episodes have been filmed and hopefully, ABC will air them all. If the ratings fall as expected however, the network could pull the series early. Unless these ratings get a lot better, it’s highly unlikely that ABC will want to go back to Happy Town next season.

But, what do you think? Is Happy Town worth watching or should it just be cancelled now? If you watched, what did you like or dislike about it?

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Amy Acker fan. Waste of her talent and of Sam Neill. I haven’t seen the episode with Frances Conroy. What a waste of gifted people. Steal a little from Blue Velvet aka Twin Peaks, and every other spooky show movie, call it homage add a mostly really talented cast and you still have a rotten show. It’s got to be in the writing. But even Joss Whedon went wrong.

I watched HAPPY TOWN and was intrigued. I think that the show should continue until “The Magic Man” or his copycat fan is captured or killed. The show is creepy the way I like creepy without going over the top. Sam Neil is just edgy enough to make you wonder what he is up to. I think the sheriff is very disturbed by something he may have hidden in his past. His son and ROOT BEER are doofuses so far. The lead female character aka Chloe is hot and talented. The cast is well rounded and seem to work well… Read more »

I actually liked this show! Unfortunately, I’ll be surprised if it gets picked up for another season (or even completes this one). Way too many really good shows are getting canceled without being given a proper chance.

I watched and really wanted to like it. But through out the whole hour I kept thinking that’s stupid. That’s not irony, this is just bad. I had hope for better, not sure if I’ll tune in next week because with these numbers ABC could pull it. Then once again (Like the great Eastwick) left hanging. I don’t trust any network and am very hesitant tobstart any new show.

I think this show has major potential but It is never going to get a chance to show that potential to the world. There are some serious twists and turns waiting to happen that never will. ABC does not have the intestinal fortitude to let this show play out.

The show was pathetic and weak! Who goes into a factory in the middle of a shift to tell someone their spouse was killed? That was freakin’ stupid. The old ladies bubbling over Sam Neill’s character was lame. Wife and I watched once and never again.

I agree, when they went into the factory to tell her of her husband’s demise and in front of the tour group of middle school kids no less, I was wondering “what are the writers thinking when they come up with this stuff?”

Because the two deputies are idiots and inexperienced. I believe it shows just how out of touch the people of the town are with reality. The sheriff’s son is a novice cop as well all though Root Beer should have known better. But in Haplin things are strange. So let it go.

you have obviously never had the pleasure of visiting a senior living facility or you would have thought the “old” ladies were sadly realistic. I see them everytime I visit my mom. They are lonely and it is a known fact that women outlive “silly” men

I liked this show. I thought that it was great and I have to agree with everyone else. I am sick of being pulled into these great shows just in time to have them canceled. I look forward to watching many more weeks of this show:)

Our TV / web series, “Sidewalks Entertainment,” got a chance to interview the stars and producers of Happy Town at the recent WonderCon. We talked to Amy Acker, Geoff Stults and M.C. Gainey and the producers, Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Scott Rosenberg. The interviews are located at: http://www.sidewalkstv.com/webclips/h/happytown.html

It’s sad the ratings it got for the debut. Why is ABC dying on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10PM? I give ABC credit for tying a series like this; hopefully, the ratings will improve next week.

Really awful. I only watched it because Amy Acker was in it – for about 3 mins. Another waste of Acker’s – and the rest of a good cast’s – talents, but who’s fault is that? Acker needs to make better career decisions. HT is from the same, talentless team that somehow manages to con ABC into giving them more work – Nemec, Applebaum, et al. Worse than their “October Road”, which itself was saccharine, treacly and another waste of an otherwise talented cast. This time, the cloyingly obvious script, with it’s pathetic attempt at “irony” and wink – wink… Read more »

At least let the show run its course. I enjoyed it. The show reminds me of Twin Peaks in a way. I think if given a chance to build up a following it will be successful. However the networks seem to feel that if a show isn’t number one in the ratings in the first week they ned to pull it. Perhaps this show would be better off on syfi or chiller cable networks. I’ll stay witht the show, low ratings or not, for at least the eight shows already made.

P.S. I agree with the others – stop sucking us in to these types of shows and then canceling them. I think all shows of this nature should be required to have a SERIES FINALE if canceled (like Jericho, Life on Mars). It’s only fair to the viewers.